Technology - Tools & Systems
Box Office Systems
For many audience members, the box office experience might be the only interaction they have with your company. You want to make sure your box office is set up in a welcoming and efficient manner. Consider the community you are trying to reach and what way of purchasing tickets makes the most sense for them.
Generative AI
There are different ways of defining AI but in simple terms, it’s about the automation of tasks that might have once required a level of human intelligence to complete. Modern AI systems are built using a technique called machine learning which involves using a lot of computing power to find statistical patterns in vast amounts of data. These systems can make inferences from these data inputs in order to produce outputs such as “predictions, content, recommendations or decisions.” (OECD)
Contracts Overview
Approaching contracts is more than just the paper itself that you need to get signed. Start here to get an overview of all the considerations that go into making a good agreement.
Overview & Templates
A contract is a voluntary arrangement between two or more parties that is enforceable by law as a binding legal agreement. It is formed when one party makes an offer, which the other party (or parties) accept, in exchange for consideration.
IATSE
Artists and producers should be familiar with IATSE, as their membership will be integral collaborators on all manner of performances and live events, in many capacities. Stagehands, carpenters, riggers, audio and video technicians, hair and makeup artists, front of house staff, designers, prop builders, production coordinators and more may be members of IATSE. Like many unions, IATSE has “locals”, which are individual chapters of the larger organization. IATSE locals can be focused on a particular specialization of the industry, or specific location, or both. There are Locals with municipal, regional, or provincial jurisdiction representing stagehands, prop and scenic shop workers, front of house staff, production coordinators working in the film industry, cinematographers, and designers. Each local has a fair amount of autonomy, and writes their own bylaws and constitution.
CAEA
When you are dealing with Equity, it’s important to remember that this organization was founded to deal originally with Broadway producers, the Stratford Festival, and large, well-funded regional theatres. It sees its primary responsibilities as:
a) collective bargaining and advocacy for its members
b) ensuring workplace safety and insurance benefits, and
c) making sure its members get paid.
Professional Association of Canadian Theatres
The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) is a service organization for professional theatre companies across the country. The organization acts as a collective voice for its member companies.
PACT is a Professional Association, representing Canadian Theatre companies, collectives, and other organizations, whose Labour Relations department negotiates collective agreements with other Professional Associations, including the Associated Designers of Canada (ADC-IATSE), L’Association des professionnels des arts de la scène du Québec (APASQ), Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (CAEA), and Playwrights’ Guild of Canada (PGC), on behalf of their membership.
Associated Designers of Canada
Incorporated in 1965, Associated Designers of Canadais a national, professional non-profit arts service organization dedicated to representing the interests of set, costume, lighting, projection and sound designers working in the live performing arts in Canada. In the summer of 2020, ADC members voted in favour of affiliation with IATSE, as ADC Local 659. Local 659 has been active since January 2021.
Playwrights Guild of Canada
Playwrights Guild of Canada (PGC) is a member service organization that advocates, protects, and promotes Canadian playwrights. If the playwright you are looking for is a member of the guild, you can most likely find information on performance rights for their work. If you commission a PGC member, you can guarantee that the playwright will know their own rates and be able to navigate their own contracts.
The American Federation of Musicians
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) helps thousands of musicians who need assistance with any number of issues related to the recording and performing of their craft. They have specialized services including immigration, media recordings, symphonic and theatrical matters, touring, freelance musicians and membership services, contract negotiations and administration, royalty streams, and more. The union helps its membership take advantage of all career opportunities and optimize the level of their professional working environment.
Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists
Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists (CADA) are two organizations who work for the labour rights of artists and professional standards for dance. They are independent organizations and both registered as non-profits; one in British Columbia, based in Vancouver, and one in Ontario, based in Toronto. While their mandates and programs are similar, they are not officially tied in any way.
Toronto Musicians Association
The Toronto Musicians' Association (TMA), Local 149 of the Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM) and American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is the professional association for musicians in the Greater Toronto Area. Founded in 1887, the Toronto Musicians' Association received the charter as the Toronto area Local of the AFM on June 15, 1901.
Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada
When looking to use music in performance, you may need to check in with The Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN). SOCAN is a member service organization that distributes royalties to Canadian music composers, authors, and publishers. All venues will have SOCAN licenses to play music in the general space (like background music, or the radio). If you have popular music in your show, you will need to look into getting licensing for your production. Composition rights are usually handled with SOCAN, but the recording rights are taken care of at Re:Sound
Canadian League of Composers
Now that we know where to go to apply for music rights, let’s talk about commissioning Canadian music. If you would like to commission a Canadian musician to write music for your production, contact the Canadian League of Composers (CLC). This organization advocates and protects composers and will steer you in the right(s) direction!
CARFAC
Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC) is incorporated federally as a non-profit corporation that considers itself the national voice of Canada’s professional visual artists. As a non-profit association and a National Art Service Organization, their mandate is to promote the visual arts in Canada, to promote a socio-economic climate that is conducive to the production of visual arts in Canada, and to conduct research and engage in public education for these purposes.
Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts
Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) is an arts service organization that represents and supports theatres, productions, and individual artists within the Toronto theatre, dance and opera communities. They offer a series of services for their members such as discounts on advertising rates, eligibility for their artist programs, and the chance to submit your production for the DORA awards. TAPA also offers many services that are free to the public such a job postings, audition postings, access to whatsontonight.ca, and many more.
Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA)
Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) is an association for Dramaturgs.
LMDA has published a set of Employment Guidelines for dramaturgs, and a series of Sample Contracts for some of the many ways that dramaturgs are hired. The Guidelines have info in rates that LMDA has found via surveys, but the organization is not a union and doesn't publish suggested minimums because the range of contracts are so varied. Dramaturgs are not part of the CTA/ITA.
Accessibility Overview
Ontario is the first jurisdiction in Canada, through the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) to mandate and regulate accessibility standards for public and private sectors in all key areas of daily living. The purpose of the act is to make the province accessible for Ontarians with disabilities by 2025. This regulation applies to every person or organization that provides goods, services, or facilities to the public or third parties and that has at least one employee in Ontario.
ASL Interpretation
Hearing interpreters have to be members of CASLI (Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters) in order to work. Deaf Theatre Interpreters have a different scope of interpreting, as it is an artistic field for them. Therefore they require a different set of training, which includes theatre experience/training.